Md. Khairuzzaman Sajib, Special Correspondent

Delupi screened in Batiaghata: A new journey in film appreciation through stories of land and people

A new initiative to promote film appreciation began in Batiaghata, Khulna, with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp and the planting of a krishnachura tree. On Friday (August 14), the acclaimed film Delupi, portraying the lives, nature and struggles of people in southern Khulna, was screened at the Upazila Auditorium under the initiative of the Tapasi-Nabapallab Cultural Family.

The event was jointly organised by the Tapasi Smriti Sahitya-Sanskriti Parishad and the Nabapallab Agricultural Development Cooperative Society with the aim of introducing regular film activities to Batiaghata’s cultural scene.

The programme was inaugurated by poet and writer Gaur Das Biswas, founder of the Tapasi Smriti Sahitya-Sanskriti Parishad and publisher-editor of the literary magazine Tapasi, along with Batiaghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer Thandar Kamruzzaman. Local artists, writers, cultural activists, educators and distinguished members of the community attended the event.

Directed by Md. Tawqeer Islam and produced by Footprint Film Production, Delupi portrays the natural environment, politics, social realities and struggles of marginalised people in southern Khulna. The participation of local people, including folk theatre performers and farmers from Batiaghata, has given the film a strong connection with the lives and realities of the area.

Despite the intense heat, a large number of enthusiastic viewers attended the screening. Following the film, viewers took part in an interaction with the director and members of the cast and production team. General audiences, artists, cultural activists, educators and people from different professions participated in the discussion.

The organisers said the initiative is not limited to film screenings. They aim to enrich local culture through literature, music, theatre, folk performances and cinema. They also plan to organise regular film screenings, audience-director discussions and programmes involving local artists.

According to the organisers, although the screening of Delupi has ended, its story has not. Instead, a new journey in film appreciation has begun in Batiaghata—one that seeks to bring together the land, its people and their culture.

Zakir Chairman’s performance in Delupi was particularly noteworthy, adding another dimension to the film’s portrayal of local life and social realities.